HC notices to BJP MLAs over election petitions

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday issued notices to BJP MLAs Prakash Bharsakale (Akot) and Rajesh Wankhede (Tiwsa) in response to election petitions filed by their defeated rivals from the Congress — former women and child development minister Yashomati Thakur and Mahesh Gangane.

The court has instructed them to submit their replies within four weeks. The petitioners were represented by advocates Akash Moon and Pawan Dahat.

The petitions contest the electoral victories of Bharsakale and Wankhede, citing procedural irregularities in the conduct of the assembly elections.

Thakur and Gangane have contended that the Election Commission failed to comply with mandatory legal requirements before conducting polls through EVMs. They asserted that no official notification was issued for EVM-based voting and that essential election records, including CCTV footage and Form 17, were not furnished to them. Furthermore, they highlighted that VVPAT verification was not undertaken, raising concerns over electoral transparency.

During the proceedings before Justice Anil Pansare, the court determined that only the victorious candidates would remain respondents in the case, excluding the ECI and other parties from the list. The court subsequently issued notices to Bharsakale and Wankhede, directing them to respond within the prescribed timeframe.